---

Dmitri Y. Boudko Assistant Professor, Physiology and Biophysics Phone: 847-578-8359 Lab:847-578-8700 Fax: 847-578-3265 E-mail: dmitri.boudko@rosalindfranklin.edu Skype:dmitri.boudko

---

MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION OF MEMBRANE TRANSPORT SYSTEMS

Our ultimate goal is to determine the molecular, integrative, and evolutionary basis of secondary transporters which supply essential minerals and nutrients in organisms. We employ simple comparative models, the African malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti, and fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster which together comprise a time-cost-efficient experimental framework to study molecular, electrochemical, and integrative basis of the transport systems. Our research leads to the identification, functional characterization, and structural homology modeling of novel transporters.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. To explore the molecular, integrative, and evolutionary basis of transport network which mediate absorption and redistribution of essential amino acids in metazoan organisms.
2. To reveal molecular and genetic basis of essential amino acid absorption disorders.
3. To develop technology for controlling essential transport in pathogen, vector and pest organisms.

ONGOING PROJECTS

Identification and characterization of essential amino acid transporters (supported by NIH-NIAID -R01 AI30464). This study focuses on the Sodium Neurotransmitter symporter Family, SNF (a.k.a. SLC6) which includes transporters for neurotransmitters, amino acid osmolites and metabolites, and recently identified subfamily of Nutrient Amino acid Transporters (NATs; Boudko et al. PNAS, 2005). We found that NATs comprise a synergetic transport mechanism for absorption and distribution of essential amino acids. We postulate that NATs are critical for intracellular balance and metabolism of essential amino acids. Hence, NAT dysfunctions corelate with metabolic and mental disorders in man including anxiety, drug abuse, obesity, and distinct forms of neutral amino acidurias; and species-specific NAT function is faultless target for environmentally-safe biological control of pathogenic and pest organisms. Our present study aims to reveal molecular diversity and integrative basis in the NAT populations in selected model organisms.

Transport Physiology of Disease Vector Mosquitoes (in collaboration with Drs. W. Harvey and P. Linser, University of Florida). This project aims to reveal molecular mechanisms of ultimate alkalinization (pH>11) and mineral ion homeostasis in the insect midgut. We employ semi intact preparations to define electrophysiological, pharmacological, and ionic flux in specified midgut regions and epithelial cells. We analyze transmembrane potential, spatial electrochemical coupling, and local ionic fluxes in different midgut regions under model physiological conditions and applications of specific ion inhibitors. Presently we have cloned several anion and cation exchangers from SLC4 and CLC9 families of An. gambiae. We have proved that several of these transporters are associated with alkalinization. Future analysis will focus on a comprehensive understanding of mineral ion homeostasis and will disclose the molecular and integrative basis of the essential alkalinization phenomenon.

UPCOMMING PROJECTS (Postdoctoral and graduate student positions are available)

Biological control of essential amino acid absorption in disease vector, pest and pathogen invertebrates. Comparative modeling of structure-function relationship in the SLC6 family.

Recent Publications